Odette

Death comes so swiftly to people we never would have thought would go quickly, and quietly, in the night. Their departure, so unexpected, so uncalled for, deals a big blow to our hearts. And we drop whatever it is we’re doing, we’re left in a shock, in a daze and wonderment, and we ask, why, why? Why did our beloved Odette Alcantara leave us, like candle light blown by the wind, like a song snuffed out before its last notes could be written?

Now you know my sadness over Odette’s passing a few days ago. And the sadness of many who looked to her as an environmentalist, chess player, art collector, lover of clean air and water and soil, inspirer and friend, a mother to all, who wanted all living creatures to be in awe of, and to take care of Mother Earth.

I picked up unwritten and spoken eulogies of worshipping friends of Odette. Bert Robledo, founder of Bravo Filipino, met Odette at the Alcantara Heritage House in Cubao in 1988. He was part of a trio of baritones doing a soiree recital arranged by Odette. “I thought Odette was just a busybody, a bored entrepreneur trying to show off her place as a haven for arts and artists.” But surprise of surprises! Odette had called a throng of people to attend the recital — an ambassador, painters, musicians of note, environmentalists, known advocates of good government.” Bert was completely bowled over.

Since that time, Bert was party to Odette’s ministrations. “She had a ready hand to help aspiring artists — in fact many young performers had their baptism of fire at her place. She would cook the performer’s favorite meal, she would ask friends to share with potluck food, and the soiree becomes a generous serving of food for the soul and stomach. Also, international artists including our national treasures like pianist Cecille Licad, cellist Michael Coo, tenor Otoniel Gonzaga, the list is endless — all of them performed and graciously lent their talent at the Alcantara House Music Hall.”

Odette introduced Flor Tarriela, then a young officer of Citibank, to paintings. Later, their paths crossed again, and this time, Odette gave Flor lessons in composting and returning to mother earth biodegradable items. “To my surprise, it works, and reduced my garbage at home by 50 percent. What’s even better, the growth of my plants improved when I buried the compost in the soil and my garden bloomed!”

A couple of years ago, Flor was at Odette’s house earlier than the scheduled Fern Society of the Philippines meeting, and Odette asked if Flor knew people named Ramon. Flor said, yes, She knows Ramon Madrid, her eight year old nephew. “The next thing I knew, Ramon Madrid was the mascot and ‘chairboy’ of Tsikiting Gubat and Ramon Forest.” (Odette had organized a Ramon Magsaysay movement of sorts, in which guys named Ramons initiate the planting of trees in memory of the late president. I can proudly say that I was the one who began calling Odette Ramona.)

With Odette’s encouragement, the Carolina Bamboo Garden of Flor’s sister, Kay Gozon Jimenez, and Flor’s Garden in Antipolo, are sites of Tsikiting Gubat and Ramon Forests planted to all sorts of young trees by children under the chairboyship of Ramon Madrid.

On the Internet, I came across environmentalist and philosopher Rene Azurin. He wrote: “I learned this afternoon that the passionate, untiring dynamo of our environmental movement, Mother Earth herself Odette Alcantara, left us today for the Place where the forests are lush, the streams and rivers are sparkling, the air is free of noxious gases, and there is no garbage anywhere.

“From still sketchy reports, she apparently had an aneurysm that ruptured sometime last night, she was rushed to St. Luke’s hospital, and she expired at around 2 p.m. today (Monday, September 28).

“I have no words to express the great sense of loss I feel at her passing. She was a tremendous inspiration to me, as I am sure she was to all of you.”

Von Hernandez, executive director of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, called Odette one of the “shining beacons” of the Philippine environmental movement,” an “indefatigable and passionate environmental crusaders until the end. . . (Her) work will serve as an inspiration for many of us, especially at this time when the planet is dramatically in danger from the impacts of climate change.”

Hernandez and Odette worked closely to help in the passage of the Clean Air Act and the Ecological Solid Waste Management Act. He described Odette as “a brilliant communicator (who) distilled the oftentimes complicated and technical concepts of ecology into simple, witty yet compelling morsels of Filipino wisdom. When confronted with her irrefutable logic, decision-makers often found it difficult — almost shameful — to reject her position.”

Her children continue to receive friends and visitors at Odette’s Blue Ridge (Quezon City) home, where once Odette reigned supreme and unflappable, wise and down-to-earth, all laughter and fun, her table laden with food made from organically grown vegetables.

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Bayanihan, the National Folk Dance Company of the Philippines, will present “Beyond Folklore” at the Cultural Center of the Philippines October 2-4. The presentation will showcase the company’s latest works in five segments. “Broadway Revisited” will feature dance numbers that the Bayanihan performed during their Broadway debut at New York’s Winter Garden Theater 50 years ago.

 “E-Bayanihan” is a fearless projection of the marriage of new technology and folk dance.

Dances from a different time in the country’s Spanish colonial past will be featured in “Bailes de la Calle Anda.”

“Heneral Trias at Noveleta” and “Romanza Ilokana” will showcase dance suites based on research conducted by Bayanihan’s artistic team during the Teaching and Touching Lives program of the dance company.

For inquiries, call 5246285.

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My email: [email protected]